Amaranthine Love ~Original Story~

Chapter 20- Explanations, Learning, and Love

"Tom you've got to help me!" Mary exclaimed running over to him. He sighed as he stopped praying to look over at her annoyed.

"What is it Mary?"

"Donna is missing! I went out to go check on her and she's gone!" She replied flustered, "I don't know where she could have went off to!"

"Relax Mary she's probably just out somewhere. She's eighteen it's fine." He said plainly, thinking he solved the problem, but Mary was not having it.

"Tom she was heartbroken! She was not going to leave, she said so! She said she was going to stay there and now she's gone!"

"Heartbroken?" Tom asked confused, "I didn't think her boyfriend would be the type to break her heart. She has a boyfriend right?" Mary just stared at him in shock, he was completely clueless.

"Um- well he did, he just completely broke her heart. Left her crying by the bridge all alone, she was convinced he'd come back for her and swore she'd stay there 'til she died. And that's why it's such a big deal that she's gone Tom!"

"Why'd he leave her by that cursed bridge? I thought everyone was terrified of that thing." He added suspiciously.

"Tom it doesn't matter!" Mary snapped at him, "Our daughter is missing and you are helping me find her this time!"

"Mary I still say she's fine, but if it'll calm you down and get you to stop yelling at me I'll go." He said standing up slowly.

"Well you didn't have a choice anyways, you were going regardless!"

"Fine whatever, just let me get something." He replied walking down the hallway to his own room. Mary followed him confused at what he could possibly need, but when he grabbed his cross off the wall she was not surprised.

"Tom what do you need that for?" She exclaimed as he turned around and walked out of the room.

"For protection Mary," He said simply looking out the big window in the living room. Mary stood behind him with her hands on her hips. "You don't know what evils could be lurking out there in those cursed woods."

"Tom you brought Donna out there before, you were not scared then." She pointed out annoyed.

"I brought it with me then too Mary, it gives me strength, protection."

"Oh whatever, bring it then, let's go."

And with that they both headed for the door and out into the dusky orange painted sky. Their shadows stretched behind them as they both called Donna's name, Mary more desperately and louder than Tom. But nevertheless he still stuck by her as they searched the fields by their house for their lost daughter.
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"Donna what happened to you while I was away?" Ferneus asked her as they stepped out of the light and back on to the bridge.

"I want you to tell me first. Where did I go? What was that place? And why is your soul so..."

"Distraught, pained, horrifying, anguished?"

"Yeah... that." She replied hesitantly, he laughed as he set her back down on her feet.

"Fine I'll tell you, but you have to promise that you'll tell me what happened to you." He replied seriously, "You called me Jesus, did you see him? Did he talk to you?"

"Ferneus." Donna said crossing her arms, he sighed.

"Fine, I'll try and explain it, but just know that I don't know everything for sure. There's still a lot I do not know."

"That's fine, I wasn't expecting you to know everything, I just want some explanation for all that happened to me." She said gesturing to herself. He smiled sadly as he stared into her black and green eyes.